On March 13, 2012, Pastor David Ogbolu, Founder of Christ Bible Gospel Church, Ajibawo Village in Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government of Ogun State, was murdered by some land speculators.

His sin, according to information gathered by PUNCH Metro, was that he was not ready to compromise on land matters.

But over eight months after the 50-year-old pastor was murdered, it was learnt that the major suspects in the murder had been walking freely in the community, boasting that they were untouchable.

Worried by the danger the development portends for the family and the entire community, Ogbolu’s family has appealed to the relevant authorities to come to their rescue.

Ogbolu’s son, David, on behalf of the family, has therefore petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Muhammed Abubakar, to intervene in the matter in order to bring the culprits to justice.

In the petition dated November 22, 2012, and copied to Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun, the family alleged that since Ogbolu’s murder, a ranking police officer at the Police Headquarters, Abuja, had been backing the major suspects.

The family alleged that when the incident occurred, the nine suspects the police detained and arraigned before an Ota Magistrate’s Court on April 16, were released on the advice of the state Director of Public Prosecution on April 25.

The petition to IG Abubakar reads in part, “It is with heavy heart that I write this letter, craving the indulgence of your good office to seek justice over the dastardly killing of our father, Pastor David Ogbolu, by some identified hoodlums at Oke-Odo, Ado-Odo/Ota LGA of Ogun State on Tuesday, March 13, 2012.

“Our father was gruesomely murdered by some land grabbers in the area who had over time labelled him a traitor for his stoic stance for truth and justice.

“On behalf of my mother, Felicia Ogbolu, and my four siblings, I request your immediate investigation into the matter as the major suspects are publicly boasting that they are untouchable, threatening to deal with us through a top police officer who is well known to be their backbone.

“The murder of our father, who was 50 years old, was not a case of mistaken identity but calculated and well orchestrated because he had always stood on the side of truth and justice in the community, particularly in matters of land disputes. We believe that was why he was killed.

“On the day he was murdered, hired hoodlums wielding dangerous weapons stormed Oke-Odo village and unleashed terror on the inhabitants. They came fiercely in five trucks, shooting sporadically with villagers having no option but to scamper to safety.

“Our father was killed few hours after the invasion while on his way to keep an appointment with a senior pastor in a neighbouring village. The hoodlums laid siege to him in the bush.

“Some of those who live around the area where my father was killed confided in us and some village leaders that they overheard him shouting one familiar name. There is no such name among land speculators in the area. The man was duly arrested after the case was reported at the Ota Area Command.

“The man in question was arrested with other major suspects and the case was transferred to state Criminal Investigation Department, Eleweran, Abeokuta, where to our dismay and shock, they were immediately released on the order of the ranking police officer. The police officer has since been protecting the murder suspects.”

The family urged the IG to look deeply into their petition, saying it would help the police to fish out those behind the murder.

It said until the major suspects were brought to justice, the blood of Ogbolu would continue to cry for justice.

The family wondered the connection between the hoodlums and the police officer that he was not allowing the police to investigate their father’s killing.